Agricultural Weeds. 
379 
energetic action. It is well known that some of the most perni- 
cious weeds are to be found amongst the Cornposita', a natural order 
of plants, to which the Sonchus, Leontodon, Carduus, Tussilago, 
Seiiecio, and Centaiirea belong. Now in all these plants we may 
observe that their seeds are crowned with a feathery down — the 
Pappus of botanists — which acts as a tiny parachute, enabling 
such seeds to be wafted here and there by the slightest breeze, 
and thus they float for miles ; it therefore follows that how- 
ever particular we may be in trying to subdue them in our culti- 
vated fields, yet waste places and waysides, where many species 
like to dwell, if not attended to will ever afford a nursery for 
many of the most objectionable weeds. Waste places, tlierefore, 
on every farm — if there be such — cannot too carefully be looked 
to in this matter : and, if the principle be fully recognised, the 
keeping roads in order, especially in rural districts, will compre- 
hend iceediiig the icaysides. We once saw a farmer employ men, 
in a not over busy time, in mowing thistles on a good breadth of 
road running through tb.e middle of his farm, but, unfortunately, 
the seed was I'ipe when this was done, and, as the thistles were 
left where they fell, the dissemination of their seeds was not pre- 
vented. This, therefore, is a matter which seems to belong to 
the overseer of the road, and the plea of idle time should never 
be recognised. 
But unfortunately it is not always that these evils emanate 
from mere waste places and roadsides. One bad and dirty 
farmer may preserve weeds enough to continue a supply to a wide 
range of neighbours, in which case it would not seem unreason- 
able to call upon him to render compensation for damages. 
It now remains to glance at some kinds of weeds that have not 
been much noticed in the former part of this essay, namely : — 
Weeds of meadows. 
Weeds lohich impede loatercourses. 
Weeds of hedge-lanks and fences. 
Of the many plants which grow in pasture several can be 
considered only as weeds. Indeed, even the bad grasses, as Aira 
cccspitosa (hassock-grass), BrachipGdium (false brome-grass), and 
others, as they encumber with innutritions matter soil which 
should be otherwise occupied ; Plantago major and minor (plan- 
tain), and Arctium lappa (burdock), by growing flatly on the 
ground and preventing the growth of grass, are all weeds. 
Docks, thistles, and hardhead, by reason of their unfitness 
for pasture or fodder, are also troublesome weeds. In ridding 
pastures of weeds, it will be well to bear in mind that the most 
noxious of them are due to improper cultivation ; some show 
want of draining, and others impoverished soil. Now the first will 
